Quick Reference Links:
About Educators * Educator Feedback Reports * Tools for Educators * Featured Educators

The 2009-10 Educator Catalog for second semester is now here! Click on the link below to view, download, or print a copy.
2009-10 Educator Catalog - Semester 2

Anyone can be an Educator. The simplest way to become an Educator is to be hired by a VISION HCP Learner and family. A more formal way is to come by the VISION HCP office and pick up an Educator packet. The packet describes the role in more detail and provides the office with relevant information in order to list the person as an Educator. Most important is the person's full name, birth date, and social security number. We need this information to complete an Avert Background Check to screen for past offences against children and episodes involving physical harm. Once the background check is done, the Educator is free to submit flyers in our Educator notebook and have his or her name listed in the Educator List. Parents of Learners in the program can be Educators too. However, they cannot be paid for teaching their own children.

See Educator Information, Educator Application Part I and Part II, and Background Check Policy in the Educator section of the Forms Page.

Educators provide settings where students learn skills under their supervision. The Educator and student will develop an agreement that clearly defines all goals and expectations for the learning process in accordance with the Learner Learning Plan. The Educator plans the classes or instruction for the Learner. All skills being taught and pursued will be related to students goals. The Educator will also support the Learners with their portfolio or in documenting their learning. Some options for documentation are:

1. a written statement in the form of course description and comments about the Learner
2. a letter of recommendation
3. a discussion with the mentor or RC (after which the RC will make note of the discussion in the learning update)
4. assist the Learner in choosing a piece for the portfolio
5. assist the Learner in writing a description of what occurred during their time together

See the Learner Information and Educator/Learner Agreements Form in the Educator section of the Forms Page.

Evaluation and Accountability: At the conclusion of each Educator/Learner agreement, Learners are encouraged to complete the Educator Feedback Form and return it to the VISION HCP office. The staff will summarize the evaluations for the Educator to review. Also other Learners can refer to these summaries as well. Potential Learners may call former students to inquire about the Educator. Ultimately, the Educator is accountable to the Learner and parents who decide whether or not to continue working with the Educator.

See Educator Feedback Form in the Educator section of the Forms Page.

Contact Information: There is a list of Educators at the VISION HCP offices.

Exit: If the Educator does not want to work with Learners anymore, then he or she needs to let the VISION HCP office know so that his or her name can be taken off the list.

(BACK TO TOP OF PAGE)

Many times, we are asked the following question by parents, "How can we know more about a certain Educator and get feedback from their classes?" For over a year now, Elaine, (our industrious Educator Coordinator) has been compiling Educator Feedback Reports from students and parents who have taken classes from various Educators. After an Educator's class was completed by a Learner, the family was asked questions such as,

"Did the class satisfy your purpose for taking the class?"

"What was the teaching style of the Educator?"

"Would you take another class from this Educator?"

and a host of other questions. After the school year, all of the reports were compiled into a single overall generic report for each Educator and class, and are now posted here and available for you to review. If you would like to see the details of a specific report, please contact Elaine at the office. Click on one of the links below to see a report.

Angela Toothaker: Civics
Buffy Zentmeyer: Piano & Voice
Carol Lamm: Algebra 1
Cristen Chermak: Act Prep, Consumer Math, Piano, Speech, Writing
Dan Korow: Biology, Chemistry, General Science
Dona Vidrine: Reading
Dorothy Allen: Tutor
Dottie Meehan: Piano Form
Gerry Lell: Writing
Julie Mulford: Act Prep, Algebra 1, Hands on Science, Math Lab
Laura Peck: Art, Cooking, Piano, Sign Language
Linda Dysart: Dance
Liz Ackerman: Making Dollars from Sense
Mike Bollig: Drivers Ed
Nora Resz: Spanish
Paul Frazier: Choir, Guitar
Jennifer Quinn: Journalism
Willow Moreland: Tutor

(BACK TO TOP OF PAGE)

Click Here to see or print the Toolkit Packet for Educators from our Forms page. You can also view the Educator Orientation Here

Click Here to see or print an Educator Invoice from our Forms page

(BACK TO TOP OF PAGE)

KRIS HOOTEN

By Reilly Quist:

Kris Hooten is a fantastic person. He grew up in Virginia Beach, VA, until his junior year in high school when his family moved to Cortez, Colorado. After he graduated, he went to Western State, where he played football for two years. He transferred to UNC after and he graduated with a BA in History. Kris taught at Cedaredge High School for one year until he heard about Vision. He saw an ad in the paper for RCs and came in to apply.

Kris now teaches World History, Writing Composition, and Civics. He also tutors in math and any subject a learner is having trouble with. He really enjoys working with Learners through the Vision program.

Kris has three younger sisters who still live in Cortez. He has been married to his wife Holly for three years, and they have a little boy, Anderlan, who is nine months old. Kris’ passions are; his relationship with Christ, his family, and athletics. He likes to use his three passions to impact others. His hobbies are softball, reading, and video games. He enjoys going to Ouray and Ridgeway with his family on camping trips when the weather is warm. Kris Hooten is far from ordinary, and sounds like a wonderful educator.

KELI ADENEKAN

By Reilly Quist:

Keli Adenekan is a wonderful person to work with. She grew up in Hotchkiss, and
graduated from Hotchkiss High School. Keli has been married for two years. Her husband is from Nigeria. One thing she did that she enjoyed tremendously was going to Kenya on a safari for twelve days. Her passion is helping others who are less fortunate. She loves to volunteer.

Keli has a Bachelor of Science degree in special education from Lee University in
Cleveland, Tennessee. She also has an Elementary Education degree for K-8th grade. She has three years of teaching experience with severe needs learners. Keli did her student teaching in Ghana (rural Africa). She taught 2nd grade, and had 92 children in her class. She was there for nine weeks. This was one of the most challenging things she has ever done, but very rewarding. Through this experience she decided she would rather work with special needs learners one on one.

Keli got involved with Vision through a friend who is an Occupational Therapist. Her
friend told her about Vision and suggested she become an educator for us. Keli is tutoring special needs learners one on one this semester. She likes to work with them the best. Keli is a very kind and caring person.

CAROL STEVENS

By Reilly Quist:

Carol Stevens is a remarkable person! She grew up in a military family. They lived in thirty eight different stations while she was growing up. The only places she lived outside the US were in Canada, where she graduated from high school, and Okanawa, Japan. Carol has two children, a daughter in Montrose who has three children, and a son who travels overseas. Carol’s husband is retired from BF Goodrich, where he did computer work. Carol and her husband retired in Montrose to be close to their daughter and grandchildren.

Carol’s education is in nursing. She is an RN, and went to school in Cleveland OH at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing. She loved the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing because the academics and discipline they teach. Carol was an OB nurse for four years when she realized her most important job was being a wife, and mother. When she was in her thirties she went back to school and got a degree in Secondary Education, and graduated “Summa Cum Laude”. Carol has mainly done math tutoring with her education.

Carol heard about Vision through the Montrose Education Co-op. Her passion is to see that young people grow in wisdom as well as knowledge. Carol is teaching Saxon Algebra II this school year. Carol is an amazing person to work with.

BRANDON NITTLER

By Reilly Quist:

Brandon Nittler is a superb teacher. He grew up in Delta and graduated from Delta High School. Brandon played baseball, basketball, and football until his senior year when he got a job at Pizza Hut and saved his money for college. He has been married to his wife Krystal for two years and they have two dogs. He also has one sister who is a student at Mesa State College. He spends a lot of time with family; both he and his wife’s family live in Delta. Brandon is very into history, loves going 4-wheeling, and enjoys wood-working.

Mr. Nittler received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Mesa State College. While he attended college, he found out about the Vision program. His mother-in-law suggested he teach while he was getting his degree to make extra money. Everyone he talked to about the Vision program was very positive, and he decided to give it a try. He likes the freedom Vision gives its learners. His goal is to get his masters degree in history, and also his teaching certificate. This semester Mr. Nittler is teaching American History, World History, Geography, and World Geography. He also tutors Learners in math and history. I am taking his World History class and he is a fantastic teacher!

JULIE PEEBLER

By Reilly Quist:

Julie Peebler is a fun and exciting person. She grew up in Louisiana and moved to Delta in her Junior year of high school. She graduated from Delta High School.

Mrs. Peebler got married one year after she graduated. She now has two daughters, Cheyann, who is in fifth grade, and Laramie, who is in second grade. She has homeschooled her girls for four years. Mrs. Peebler owns a beading business with her sister that is called “Twisted Sisters Beading”. Her husband owns a sign company, KP & Company Signs.

Mrs. Peeber and her family like to spend time outdoors. She also enjoys gardening and beading. She believes hobbies are important and that they keep kids from spending too much time in front of the TV. She helps her kids feel good about the talents they have. Mrs. Peebler's passion is teaching her children and making sure they get the best education possible.

Mrs. Peebler first heard about Vision from some of her friends. She enjoys the help she gets from her consensus group, teachers, and also the classes that are offered. Julie Peebler now teaches jewelry making with beads. She would like to do some Wednesday classes in the future. I think Mrs. Peebler sounds like a very fun teacher and I hope to take one of her beading classes next semester!

RYAN McGEHEE

By Reilly Quist:

Ryan McGehee is a new photography educator for the Vision program. He was born, the oldest of four children, in Clifton and moved to Olathe when he was three years old. He has one sister and two brothers that all live in the area. He went to Delta schools until he was a sophomore and then he was homeschooled with the American School program. While he was in high school he took a correspondence course through the New York Institute of Photography and graduated with a certificate through them.

Mr. McGehee has been married to Barbara Jean for sixteen years and they have four daughters. Their daughters’, Katrina 13, Rachel 11, Laura 9, and Mariah 4, all love the outdoors. The whole family loves spending time together hunting, fishing and camping. Katrina shot her first doe last year and her first buck this year. Mr. McGehee does not have a lot of free time but when he does, he likes to do woodworking and tan hides. He would love to have more time for his hobbies; photography and being outdoors.

Ryan McGehee has had his children in the program for six years and found out about
the Vision program from his aunt. Mr. McGehee will be teaching photography this year, and possibly do some outdoor skills classes next year. We are all looking forward to seeing what this exciting educator has to offer to our program!

SETH CORIDAN

By Reilly Quist:

Seth Coridan is a very interesting person. He spent his childhood in Florida, and Indiana. He is the oldest of three siblings, and has a brother and a sister. His parents currently live in Indiana. He is married to Melissa, who is an RC. Seth has two boys, Daniel who is four years old and Joshua who is two years old. When he was growing up he always brought home animals, anything from rattle snakes to alligators. His favorite animals in the past were a dog and a wallaby. Now Seth’s favorite animal is Sam, who is an Australian Bearded Dragon. Sam is easy to work with and very passive. Seth and Melissa built their home with the animals in mind and made their garage into a space for all his exotic animals. The garage floor stays at 70 degrees all year round. Seth has over 100 exotic animals. Seth’s passion is learning about exotic animals and teaching children.

Seth has a BA in Theology, and a Masters Degree in Divinity. He got involved with the Vision program through his wife Melissa because she is an RC. Seth is teaching the Animals of the World class for K-3rd grade this school year. He will have a class for older children next semester. Seth also does summer camps and takes his animals to teach children. Seth Coridan is a wonderful addition to our program. Many Learners are very excited to take his classes!

DONNA OWEN

By Reilly Quist:

Donna Owen is a very interesting person. She was born in Greeley, and grew up in Fruita. Donna graduated from Fruita Monument High School, and her dad was the principal at Fruita High School. She has two brothers and one sister. One brother is a missionary on the Amazon, and the other one works on an oil rig. Ms. Owen’s sister is a nurse at St Mary’s. Donna has four children, three boys and one girl. Two of her boys
are in college, and her daughter is in high school. She also has two grandchildren, and a third is due any day. She will have one grandson, and two granddaughters. All of her grandchildren live in Grand Junction.

Donna has a BA in Biology, and a minor in Earth Science. She went to Fort Lewis, UNC at Greeley, and finished school at Mesa State in Grand Junction. Donna worked at the airport in Telluride for an airport security company. One day she was talking to one of her co-workers about how she really enjoyed teaching and wished she could find a job doing that. The co-worker had a child in the North Fork Vision program and told her to call and ask about opportunities in the Vision program. She ended up calling and came to work at the Delta Vision program. Throughout this school year Donna will be teaching; Hands on Science, Riverwatch, Midde School Science, Biology, Biology Lab, and Earth Science. Donna’s passion is education and science. She really likes to learn new things. Some of her hobbies include camping, hiking, needlework, and gardening. She also recently went on a cruise to Alaska with her husband.

Donna Owen is a great addition to our program. I am taking some of her classes this year and I am really looking forward to learning from her.

DEBORAH LAZEAR

Deborah came to us at the beginning of the school year and just missed getting her classes advertised in the Educator Catalog. She has been teaching some Wednesday
Classes to help get acquainted with some of our Learners throughout the year.

Deborah was born in Denver and moved to Phoenix in the 5th grade. When she graduated from high school she went to fashion design school in Los Angeles but found
that the environment was not the most pleasant. She decided to pursue her education in Elementary Ed. She received a BA from Ottawa University in Elementary Ed and got
involved with a Montessori school and became certified as a Montessori teacher. She is a “hands on” type of Educator and enjoys keeping up with the current trends in teaching. She has taken some classes in Special Ed and would like to pursue her masters in that
area.

Deborah has a daughter who still lives in Phoenix and a son who is an 11th grader
in the Surface Creek program. She enjoys sewing, crafts, hiking and kayaking. Her
passions are kids, education and learning.

Deborah plans on teaching a Hands on Math class next year which will involve Learners in K-5th grades, a writing class, music and technology. She is also interested in tutoring elementary age Learners in all subjects. Deborah has several Wednesday classes scheduled for the rest of the year so check out the ad for Wednesday classes and give one of her classes a try!

ELIZABETH SANDERS

Elizabeth became a new Educator with Delta Vision this school year after she and
her family moved to Delta in August. She has been giving studio drawing lessons and
piano lessons to several of our Learners.

Elizabeth moved to Delta from Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and two sons. She received her education through the University of Utah in drawing and painting and also has a teaching certificate for grades 6 – 12. She taught art for a year in Montana and a year in Utah in the Jr High, and loved that age group of learners. She also taught
music for K-6 grades in Utah.

Elizabeth enjoys the outdoors and is learning how to fly fish. She enjoys taking day trips with her family and exploring the area. She is taking up gardening and wants to learn about the different things that grow well in this area. So if you have any gardening
tips for her, that would be great!

Elizabeth’s passions are painting and teaching kids. She is offering a Wednesday
Art Class on April 22, so be sure to check out the ad in this month’s newsletter. We are
excited to have Elizabeth as part of our Education Network!

CHRIS McVAUGH

Chris has been involved with the Vision Programs since the North Fork Program began. She has become more involved in the Delta Program this year teaching Focus on Freedom, Writing with a Purpose, and Pottery.

Chris grew up in Canada on Lake Erie. She went to school in a one room school house and, as one of the older students, helped teach the younger ones. It was there she
realized she enjoyed teaching. She got her BA at Michigan State in English and has
taken college courses off and on since then. Chris has three grown children, a daughter and two sons. Her sons live in Michigan and her daughter in Eckert. She is also a grandmother to 9 grandchildren!

Chris loves to learn and feels the best subject for her to teach is one that she wants
to learn about as well. She enjoys learning right along with her students. One of her
passions is history which is kind of funny since she hated it in school. Right now she is
teaching a class on the 17th and 18th centuries and her students make crafts, play games and do cooking projects to help them learn about the people of that time. Chris also enjoys horses and any kind of arts and crafts. She believes good writing skills are learned by writing about things you enjoy. Next year she would like to teach a class about the Civil War. Our Learners are truly privileged to have an Educator like Chris!

STEVE KIRBY

Steve Kirby is a new Educator for Delta Vision this year. He is teaching “The History Connection” for high school students and has tremendously enjoyed getting to know some of our Learners and sharing his passion for history with them. He also taught a Wednesday Class on Automotive Basics that was fun.

Steve was raised in California, graduated from high school and went on to get his
Automotive Degree. He later moved to the Western Slope of Colorado and started a
family run restaurant, The Cameo Buffet, in Montrose. Steve decided it was time to do
something different so he started working for UPS. He worked for them for 14 years and
ended up injuring his back. He has several back surgeries and decided he could not stay in that line of work. His wife Diana had been the one to stay home and school their
children so they decided to switch roles. Diana started a software company, since that
was her area of expertise and Steve stayed home with the children.

Steve enjoys all kinds of outdoor sports including hunting, fishing, shooting and camping. Every year their family enjoys going to Mexico to Rocky Point and camping
on the beach. His other passion is History. So many times Learners don’t enjoy history
because it is presented in a dry, boring way. Steve enjoys sharing his love for history to
Learners in a way they will love it as well.

Steve and Diana heard about Vision through a friend and have had their 3 children, Audra, Cole and Shayna in the program for about 4 years. We are excited to have Steve a part of our Educator Network and his enthusiasm for history shared with our Learners!

CHERIE PLANT

Cherie Plant is a new Educator for Delta Vision this year, tutoring in Language Arts, Spelling and Vocabulary. This is a common area Learners struggle in, so I’m sure
she will be able to help many.

Cherie grew up in Brooklyn, New York and received her education at Brooklyn College. She has a BA in Elementary Education with 4 years of background in Latin. Cherie taught for 4 years before moving to Colorado where she spent the next 35 years teaching in the private school setting. In 1992 she moved to the Western Slope and
substitute taught for 5 years. She then decided to write a book on word roots and ended up writing a 6 book series which became published through Critical Thinking Company. The books are written for Learners in the 3rd – 12th grades and the software is also available with this information.

Cherie has two grown children, a daughter in Silverthorne and a son in California. She enjoys exercising (she walks 4 miles a day!) and learning new things. She also enjoys watching children learn and how they take on the challenge of education. Cherie has been teaching some Wednesday classes related to her technique she describes in her
books, and is listed in the Educator Catalog in the Tutoring section. We want to say
Welcome to Cherie!

AMY PERKINS

Amy Perkins came to the Delta Vision Program the latter part of the school year last year with a desire to offer younger Learners fun, craft type opportunities. She taught
several Wednesday classes and decided to offer an ongoing class this year – The
Kindergarten Club. Her daughter, Charley, is a part of that class. The fire station
brought one of their fire trucks for the Learners to see for one of her regular classes in
September and they had close to 30 Vision Learners take part that day!

Amy is a Delta native, and graduated from Delta High School. After high school she attended the Utah College of Massage Therapy and practiced massage therapy for
several years. She, her husband Jeff, and daughters Rian and Charley enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities including snowmobiling and 4-wheeling. Since Western Colorado has so many beautiful areas to visit, they are usually out exploring and enjoying family time most weekends.

Amy got involved with Vision when her daughter Rian became one of our Learners 4 years ago. Rian has been involved with every kind of schooling available and has come to realize Vision seems to meet her needs best. Amy’s youngest daughter Charley, came into Vision as one of our Kindergarteners this year so Amy decided it was time for her to get involved as well. We appreciate Amy and what she brings to our Educator Network!!

ANNALEE COUCH

Annalee was a new Educator to Delta Vision last spring. She originally heard about Vision from her grandmother in 2006 when she moved to the Delta area. Last spring one of our moms had heard about Annalee’s art abilities and asked her to teach an art class for her child.

Annalee grew up in Colorado and went to high school in Calhan. After graduation she went to Northeastern Junior College in Sterling for Equine Sciences where she also rode race horses. She then moved to Florida and began doing some traveling, seeing the states between here and Florida. Later Annalee went to Edison College in Fort Myers Florida where she received her AS degree in Business Administration and an AA
degree in Art. She then went to Florida Gulf Coast University and got her BA in Elementary Education.

Annalee moved her family to Delta in 2006 and got a job teaching art at Delta Middle School. She has four children, three girls and a boy ages 16, 15, 7 and 5. Her passions are her Lord, her children, and art. She loves art because of the avenue it gives for individual expression and the fact there is no right or wrong to what is done. We are thrilled to have Annalee as part of our Educator Network!!

JULIE MULFORD

Julie found out about the Vision Program accidentally when, several years ago, a friend asked her to tutor her children who were in our program. The more she learned about the program, the more interesting it sounded, and learners continued to come to her for
tutoring. She later contacted the program and became an educator. She has since taught several math classes, ACT Prep, Hands on Science and a program sponsored math lab where Learners can come in any time during class sessions for help. She loves her classes at VISION and is very strong willed with her Learners; she gives mid-terms regardless of their pleading.

Julie grew up in Orem, Utah and is the oldest of five children. Her mother told her she was a bit bossy, but she likes to think of it as natural leadership ability! She went to college for a Microbiology / Medical Technology degree with a minor in Chemistry. Julie is highly qualified in Science and Math. She is married and has five children, one dog, three cats and multiple fish. She says they are all busy, even the fish!

Julie’s passions are first, her children, then photography, cross country skiing, hiking, the tenor saxophone, piano and math! She hates invoices and receipts!!

Thanks Julie, you are wonderful addition to our program.

GERRY LELL

Submitted by Reilly Quist (6th grade)

Gerry Lell is a stellar person. In 2002 he retired from Chatfield Elementary in Grand Junction where he was worked as a reading specialist, gifted and talented teache, and a special education teacher. He moved to Delta because he wanted a place in the country where it was quiet. He found a farm where he lives with his two cats. Then, he came to work at Vision and teaches writing and guitar with writing being his
favorite to teach.

Mr. Lell grew up in Denver and went to West High School. His favorite memory from childhood was riding trains. Mr. Lell went to three different colleges. First, he went to Colorado University where he earned a degree in Psychology. He then went to Metro State College and earned a degree in Elementary Education. Last, he went o Eastern New Mexico University where he earned a Masters degree in Special Education. In his spare time, he became active in public radio as an announcer, producer and programmer. He also is a published writer and photographer.

Some interesting things about Mr. Lell are that he likes music, reading, hiking and bird watching. If he could pick any place in the world to live he would pick a place close to the ocean and the mountains. He also has a brother and a sister who are twins. If he could spend a day with any person dead or alive he would spend it with the musician Neil Young. I really like taking classes from Mr. Lell because he teaches you a lot while
still being amiable and fun!

LESLYE COLEMAN

Leslye is one of our brand new Educators this school year. She came to us as a recommendation from a parent who wanted their daughter to take cake decorating. So far cake decorating is the only class Leslye is teaching however she has other ideas brewing for next semester.

Leslye grew up in Montrose and in her words "life was a breeze". She went to Western State College in Gunnison and got her degree in Elementary Education. She later married and has 5 children, 17 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Her family enjoyed camping, fishing, hiking and baking at Christmas and sharing their goodies with the neighbors.

Leslye has been a cake decorator for 45 years and 36 of those years she has worked professionally. She currently teaches cake decorating at the Delta-Montrose Technical College as well. Leslye has several passions which include (of course) cake decorating, crocheting, embroidering, carving ostrich eggs, and teaching children’s church. She feels you never know it all - everyday is a learning experience. She feels grateful to be able to teach Learners a skill that is fun but also something they will be able to make a living at down the road. We will be excited to see what other class ideas Leslye has for next semester!

MIKE ACKERMAN

Mike has been involved in the Delta Vision Office for two years now. He is currently teaching a "History’s Mysteries and Surprises" class and taught a Mime class for one of our Wednesday classes. He grew up in Lake Orion, Michigan on an island. Water was his life and he didn’t realize until going to college, that others didn’t know how to swim and enjoy the water like he did.

Mike got his B.A. in Theatre Arts at Kalamazoo College in Michigan and took some education classes to become a teacher. After doing his student teaching he decided public school wasn’t for him.

Mike likes history and caves. He is drawn to subjects people back away from and likes to get Learners to ask questions like “What really did happen?” and learn for themselves.

LIZ ACKERMAN

Liz started working with the Delta Vision Office the same time her husband Mike did. She currently teaches "Making Dollars from $ense" and various Wednesday classes. Liz grew up in Michigan also and enjoys water sports as well.

Liz got her B.A. in Biology at Kalamazoo College in Michigan and worked for the Park Service in Estes Park as a Naturalist. She and Mike got married and now have 6 children ranging from 12 to 25 yrs and felt very strongly they wanted to homeschool. When they began homeschooling they lived in Summit County and several times were turned into Social Services and ended up with the Truant Officer on their doorstep. They heard Montrose was much more homeschool friendly and ended up moving there and found work. Their older children have gone on to college and four have received college degrees.

Liz enjoys teaching, learning, gardening and singing as a family! We are thankful they found VISION and joined our team.